InFocus’ Kangaroo is a phone-sized Windows 10 desktop PC

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ – Visual collaboration pioneer InFocus Corporation (www.infocus.com) has unveiled Kangaroo, the Windows 10 Mobile Desktop™ PC in its smallest form.InFocus today debuted the Kangaroo, a $99 Windows 10 portable PC that “goes anywhere and works with any screen.” The term “mobile desktop” may seem like an oxymoron, but that really is the best description: Picture your typical desktop PC tower shrunk down to the size of a phablet sans screen; just like any desktop, you’ll still need to connect a mouse, keyboard, and monitor.

“Kangaroo is the first product to allow you to use the same PC for all applications, in any environment”, said Lawrence Yen, director of Kangaroo product marketing.“Unlike stick PCs and other pocket PCs, Kangaroo works with all of your existing devices and can be docked at home or tossed in your bag to use anywhere, powering and providing Windows 10 access on the go”. In a twist, though, it can also plug into an iPad by way of a Lightning cable, which converts the tablet into a Windows display and input device using InFocus’ OS Linx app.

The black satin aluminum device is powered by an Intel Cherrytrail (Z8500) SOC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage (only about 18GB is free when you first start it, but storage is expandable via a microSD card), and an on-board battery (up to four hours of “casual use”). Users simply connect a Kangaroo Dock to existing screens and devices – from PC monitors and big screen TVs all the way to projectors and the iPad – for anytime, anywhere access to Windows 10, Microsoft Office and personal files. “Consumers own many different devices including tablets, laptops and desktop PCs.

It’s only slightly bigger than your average computer mouse, and yet inside that tiny box is a Windows 10 PC that boasts 4K streaming and has a fingerprint sensor for added security. It can be expanded to 128GB thanks to the microSDXC support, and it will also come with Windows 10 Home Edition preinstalled, which according to the folks at BGR runs pretty smoothly. Kangaroo connects to a workstation during the work day and when the workday is over it can become an entertainment streaming media PC via an HDMI connection on any TV. InFocus calls the Kangaroo “a no-compromise PC at a no-pain price that makes Windows 10 accessible to anyone.” That’s of course a big stretch, but I did find the device incredibly small and light given the functionality it packs.

It’s not much, but since the base unit has built-in Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11ac WiFi you won’t need to waste either on a keyboard, mouse, or network adapter – though you could always hook up a docking station if you decide you need the extra ports. There are a couple of extra features that set the Kangaroo apart as a pocket PC. “With its power, capacity and features, Kangaroo will change the definition of mobile computing”. There’s no word on when the Kangaroo will be officially launching in the United Kingdom yet, but you can bet that if interest spikes it’ll be over here in a flash.

Chances are you will only notice Wi-Fi problems if you are very far away from the source (quick tests showed that the Wi-Fi chip in the Kangaroo is simply not as powerful as the one found in an expensive laptop, but that’s no surprise). About InFocus Corp.InFocus, the inventor of the modern-day projector and pioneer of the category, innovates collaboration solutions that drive successful, visual teamwork in video walls, control rooms, large venues, conference rooms, classrooms and workstations throughout the world. InFocus’ end-to-end, system level, in-room and video calling solutions deliver fluid, convenient, dynamic ways to connect, share and collaborate from anywhere. Keep in mind that pulling the two apart meant that I was disconnecting the Kangaroo from its input devices (keyboard and mouse), HDMI output, and even its power source. And yet, when I put the two back together a few seconds later, the Kangaroo was right where I left it, showing the OS and apps in the same state, as if nothing had happened.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infocus-introduces-kangaroo-the-99-mobile-desktop-and-worlds-smallest-personal-portable-pc-300165723.html I would have preferred if that port was on the Kangaroo itself, but I guess this way, you can have multiple power cords in all the places you use the device. Aside from slow Wi-Fi in some cases and some cropping issues depending on the type of screen you’re plugging the Kangaroo into, this is definitely worth the $99. InFocus plans to unveil more products and accessories at CES 2016 in an attempt to build a Kangaroo ecosystem: A Kangaroo monitor, dedicated storage expansion, and various port expansion docks are all in the works.

Given its price point, we suspect the Kangaroo’s success will depend entirely on whether consumers are interested not just in the mobile desktop, but all its various expandable options and accessories.